At a Crossroads *again!!

[pcbnurse]

Long story: Background is that I have been a nurse for 24 years. I am currently doing Home Health, Infusions and thought it would be great to be a Nurse Educator! I applied at one of the big companies and actually got the position. Its per diem, contract. I went thru the training and after 3 months, have only gone on 2 assignments, lasting one week each. I love it! However, I want to work more. I contacted the company and they are full of empty promises and basically told me that work is coming, they just don't know when. (, I am perdiem Home Health, making very little $$$ at home while waiting)

In the meantime, I applied for another position with another Infusion company, and have an interview tomorrow!! Yeah! Well, wouldn't you know it, the 1st company "Now" wants me to go out the same week this new company has their "training week"! I know I don't have the job yet, but it looks very promising and they "say" they have alot of work....

So the problem is what do I tell the company? They are calling and emailing me wanting to know if I can work. If I turn down the assignment, they may not use me in the future. If I don't get the new job tomorrow, then I will be out of work, period! As a side note, this happened about a month ago. I had a new position all lined up and the training was the next week. However, the Infusion company called with work, so I turned down the position.

Subsequently, I have sat at home for over a month now waiting for work, where if I had taken the new position, I would be working every week!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... I am seeing a pattern here that I don't want to repeat!

[Zookeeper3]

I don't know if this helps, but I'll try. I too have handled two jobs at once. I chose my primary one (for what ever reason you choose that one), and when I applied for others, I was VERY clear that I had so and so as a priority, but if they were slightly flexible I would make every effort for the orientation and scheduling to be as smooth as possible.

A position that knows they can only give you part time, and they know you are only available part time offering you hours needs to alert you to needs asap, provide a schedule of needs as far in advance as possible and flex a bit. With 24 years exp. surely you can sell yourself to one of these places to give you a month to set things in motion and have their expectations known after that so you can meet them?

I've only 16 years in, but I think that you've not effectively communicated your conflicting scheduling needs because you're testing the waters. This is creating the havoc. Choose, communicate, be as flexible as you can to meet both needs and be as upfront as early as possible so each company is given the chance to work with you.

This can work, but you have to not keep each of them in the dark and try to make it work... it will fail that way. I wish you the best. Juggling two jobs requires excellent communication with both bosses, IMHO, you have a bit of work to get that done. Good luck:D